Wireless RF Hardware Engineer

Apple Inc.; Cupertino, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 185,000 - 325,000; Full time

Job summary

Apple Inc. in Cupertino, CA is seeking a Wireless RF Hardware Engineer to drive system engineering for regulatory compliance of new wireless products with advanced radio tech.

You will translate emission requirements into chipset and platform specs, collaborate across RF, antenna, design, and EE teams, and sign off on PCB layouts and shielding to ensure WW compliance. The role requires a strong background in RF/antenna systems, 10+ years, and a Bachelor's degree; a Master's is preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; 10+ years of RF/antenna system experience.
• Experience with regulatory/industry conformance specs for consumer wireless products.
• Experience in RF layout review, radiated sub-system review, and system grounding.
• Experience with MATLAB, HFSS, CST or ADS for electromagnetic simulations.
• Collaborative, cross-functional work with RFHW/Antenna/Product Design/EE teams.

Responsibilities

• Drive Apple's Wireless design, verification & adherence to Worldwide Regulatory/Compliance requirements.
• Review hardware designs, including CB/flex layouts, grounding and shielding for compliance.
• Characterization of Apple wireless products toward regulatory compliance.
• Debug/FA Wireless compliance issues with hands-on hardware experiments and root-cause analysis.
• Define and implement SW/FW features and test plans for regulatory compliance.

Skills

RF/antenna system development

Regulatory conformance

RF layout review

Radiated sub-system review

System grounding

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Tools

MATLAB

HFSS

CST

ADS

Job description

Cupertino, California, United States Hardware

At Apple, we work every single day to craft products that enrich people’s lives. Do you love working on challenges that no one has solved yet? Do you like changing the game? As a member of our dynamic group, you will have the unique and rewarding opportunity to shape upcoming products that will delight and inspire millions of Apple’s customers every day.Apple’s Wireless Systems and Compliance Engineering team is looking for a Wireless RF Hardware Engineer to do system engineering towards ensuring wireless regulatory compliance for new Apple products with advanced radio technologies.

Description

• Apply wireless system design/characterization knowledge towards addressing emission regulatory requirements in consumer products.
• Translate various emission requirements into system requirements for new chipsets and platforms.
• Perform debugging of marginal/failure tests and will interact with multifunctional teams like RFHW/Antenna/Product Design/EE to drive design changes and address issues.
• Perform HW failure analysis at the RF/wireless system level to identify root-cause of marginal/failing behaviors making use of hands-on experimental modifications to hardware.
• Propose design and process changes for RSE issues considering design constraints and align with cross-functional partners like RFHW/Antenna/Product Design/EE on trade-offs and implementation path.
• Review designs and sign-off on releases of PCB layouts, flex layouts, system level groundings, shielding.
• Collaborate with cross-functional partners for circuit-level, system-level simulations to understand risk areas, root cause issues, and pre-fetch potential emission concerns.
• Architect and coordinate execution of software features, which are necessary for regulatory compliance.
• Pre-fetch potential emission concerns using simulation tools and schematic reviews.
• Collaborate with the engineering teams to define emission test plans for custom features. That would include defining requirements for custom testing solutions and working with test equipment vendors.

Responsibilities

• Drive Apple's proprietary Wireless design, verification & adherence to Worldwide Regulatory/Compliance requirements.
• Collaborate with System/EE, PD, HW Design, Chipset team, Antenna, and Product design teams to ensure Apple's upcoming Technology/Product integration are aligning with Compliance requirements.
• Review and sign off on hardware designs, including CB layouts, flex layouts, system grounding, and shielding, ensuring regulatory compliance requirements are met.
• Characterization of Apple wireless products towards compliance of WW requirements.
• Debug/FA Wireless compliance related issues by performing hands-on hardware experiments, failure analysis, and root-cause investigations at the RF/wireless system level. Collaborate with HW Design, FEM Vendors, Chipset vendors, Antenna, and Product design to come up with HW fixes.
• Driving Chipset design requirements based on RF/Regulatory compliance requirements.
• Defining & implementing various SW/FW features including Regulatory Power tables.
• Performing Schematic/layout reviews and HW fixes via mockups.
• Review World-wide Wireless Regulatory/Compliance specs and develop test plans.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree with 10+ years of relevant work experience.
• Industry experience in development/characterization of RF/Antenna system for wireless technologies. Experience on commercializing products for Cellular/ WLAN is required.
• Experience with regulatory/industry conformance specifications for consumer products.
• Experience in RF layout review, radiated sub-system review, and system grounding.
• Experience with one of the tools like MATLAB, HFSS, CST, ADS.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's Degree with 10+ years of relevant work experience preferred.
• Detailed understanding of at least one Wireless technology including 5G FR1, FR2, GSM, UMTS, CDMA, LTE, 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be, Bluetooth, Thread, UWB, NFC.
• Understanding of regulatory features like DFS, Adaptivity, and Power Table.
• Experience with radiated test methodology, equipment, and 3m Chamber.

At Apple, base pay is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range. This provides the opportunity to progress as you grow and develop within a role. The base pay range for this role is between $184,700 and $324,800, and your base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.

Apple employees also have the opportunity to become an Apple shareholder through participation in Apple’s discretionary employee stock programs. Apple employees are eligible for discretionary restricted stock unit awards, and can purchase Apple stock at a discount if voluntarily participating in Apple’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You’ll also receive benefits including: Comprehensive medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, a range of discounted products and free services, and for formal education related to advancing your career at Apple, reimbursement for certain educational expenses — including tuition. Additionally, this role might be eligible for discretionary bonuses or commission payments as well as relocation. Learn more about Apple Benefits

Apple is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We seek to promote equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. Learn more about your EEO rights as an applicant

At Apple, we believe accessibility is a fundamental human right. You’ll find that idea reflected in everything here — in our culture, our benefits and our digital tools. By welcoming as many perspectives as possible, we help you build a career where you feel like you belong.

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Apple accepts applications to this posting on an ongoing basis.